MALVERN, Iowa — At 82, Linda Seipold is still answering the pager at an Iowa rescue center, where she has served as an EMT since 1981.
For Seipold and 73-year-old Advanced EMT Zennith Wilber, the work is personal. Wilber said a childhood tragedy shaped her commitment to EMS, while Seipold said her family’s experience with a farm accident reinforced the importance of the service.
In rural Iowa, though, that service faces mounting pressure. EMS is not considered an essential service statewide, and a 2025 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services report says only 21 counties have voted to declare it essential. Many departments rely on fundraisers, township dollars, grants and volunteers…